Jeremiah johnson



J. JOHNSON.

TRAIN CONTROLLNG BLOCK SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. I0. I9I1.

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TRAIN-CONTROLLING BLOCK SYSTEM.

Lezama.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

Application filed October 10, 1917. Serial No. 195,789.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMLAH JOHNSON, of the town of Port Colborne, in .the county of Welland, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train- Controlling Block Systems, of which the following is the specification.

My invention relates to improvements in train controlling block systems and the object of the invention is to provide simple means whereby two trains are prevented from approaching each other closer than a predetermined distance apart and it consists of the following arrangement and construction of parts as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1, is a diagrammatic plan view showing a series of blocks comprising my block system.

Fig. 2, is a similar view to Fig. 1, showing a detail interinediately broken away of one of the blocks and a locomotive in position within the blockt Fig. 3, is an enlarged perspective detail of my switch operating mechanism.

Fig. 4, is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures,

In Figs. 1 and 2, 1 and 2 indicate the rails of a track. In Fig. 1, the track formed by the rails 1 and 2 is divided into a series of blocks, the extent of the blocks being indicated by arrowed lines, ao indicating one block, bb another block overlapping aa at one end, cc another block overlapping the block aa at the other end and the end of block Z overlapping the end of the block co and also end ofblock d overlapping the end of block b5.

Blocks Z and d are not complete blocks but are simplythe ends of blocks, the end of block 03 overlapping block ce in the same manner that block 0c overlaps block aa.

Similarly the end of block b overlaps block bb in the same manner that bb overlaps block aa.

This showing is merely for the purpose of illustrating the continuity of the system.

Each block comprises similar mechanism and connections such as are shown in Fig. 2 and I will now describe the construction of a block as shownv in Fig. 2, which is typical of all blocks of the system.

At one end of the block 'as shown in Fig. 2, are located contacts 3 and 4 located at each side of the track to the side of the rails 1 and 2, and contacts 5 and 6 located in longitudinal alinement with the contacts 3 and 4 and spaced therefrom. 7 and 8 indicate contacts similar to the contacts 3, 4, 5 and 6 but are spaced closer together and, therefore, out of alinement with the contacts 3, 5, 4 and 6. At the other end of the 'block shown in Fig. 2, theblock is provided with contacts 9 and 10 in alinement with the contacts 3 and 4 and contacts 11 and 12 in a line with the conta-cts 9 and 10, and contacts 13 and 14 in alinement with the contacts 7 and 8 at the other end of the block. Between the contacts 13 and 14 and contacts 7 and 8 are located switch boxes 15 and 16, each of which contain mechanism which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 3. This mechanism I will now describe.

17 indicates a base plate providedI with posts 18 and 19; having slotted upper ends 18X and 19X. 20 indicates a wire having a bared end which extends through the post 18 and through the jaw 18X thereof and on which is swung a switch arm 21 of conducting material. 22 indicates a wire having a bared end which extends through the post 19 and through the jawed end 19X thereof. rI`he free end of the switch arm 21 extends through the jaw 19X and, when the switch is closed, rests upon that portion of the bared end of the wire 22 passing thro-ugh the jaw 19". 23 indicates a supporting bracket provided with open ended slots 24 and 25. 26 indicates a rack bar slidably held in the slots 24 and 25, one end of the bar 26 being provided with a reduced portion 27 terminating in an inclined end 28.

29 indicates a motor, 29X being the shaft thereof and upon which is secured a pinion 30 meshing with the rack 26. 31 indicates a motor revolving in the reverse direction to the motor 29 and provided with a shaft 32 upon which is secured a pinion 33 also meshingwith the rack 26. 34 indicates a pin extending through the rack 26 to the outside of the slot 25 whereby the movement of thel rack in the direction of arrow (see Fig. 4) is limited. 35 indicates a locomotive passing along the track formed by the rails 1 and 2. 36 indicates a shaft by which the air brake mechanism is operated. 37 indicates a crown wheel secured to the shaft 36. 38 indicates a motor, 38X being the shaft thereof. 39 indicates a pinion secured to the sha1-'t 38 and meshing with the crown wheel 37,.

40, 41, 42 and 43 indicate contacts carried by the locomotive. The contact 40 is in a line with the contacts 3 and 5, 11 and 9, the block contact 41 being in a line with the contacts 7 and 13. The contact 42 is in a line with the contacts 8 and 14 and' contact 43 withl block contacts'8, 4, 12 and 10.

44 indicates a battery. 45 indicates a wire connecting the contact 42 with one terminal of the motor 38 and 46 indicates a wire connecting the contact 40 with the other terminal of the motor 38. 47 indicates a wire connecting the contact 41 with one terminal of the battery 44 and 48 indicates a wire connecting the other terminal of the battery with the wire 46. 41X indicates a wire connecting the plate 41 with the plate 43. 49 indicates a wire connecting the contact plates 6 and 12 of a block. 50 indicates a wire connecting the plates 5 and 11. 51 indicates a wire connecting the plates 4 and 10.- 52 indicates a wire connecting the plates 3 and 9. The wire 22 leads from the post 19 of the switch box 15 as shown in Fig. 3 and is connected at its opposite end to the plate 7. The wire 2O leading from the post 18 of the switch box 15 as shown in Fig. 3 is connected at its opposite end to the plate 8. The posts 18 and 19 of the switch box 16 are similarly connected to the posts 13 and 14.

53 and 54 indicate wires extending respectively from the plates 11 and l2 to the terminals of the motor 31. 55 and 56 indicate wires leading from the plates 9 and 10 respectively to the terminals of the motor 29 in the switch box 16. 57 and 58 indicate wires leading from the plates 5 and 6 to the terminals of the motor located in theswitch box 15 corresponding to the motor 29 of the` switch box 16. 59 and 60 indicate wires leading from the plates 3 and 4 respectively to the terminals of the motor located in the switch box l5 corresponding to the motor 31 located in the switch |box 16.

It will be understood that the switches in the switch boxes 15 and 16 are normally open.

Having described the principal parts involved in my invention I will briefly describe the operation'of same.

As the locomotive passes into `the block as represented in Fig. 2 and moves toward the right the plates 40 and 43 first contact with the plates 3 and 4. When these plates are brought into contact a circuit is formed passing from the battery 44 through wire 46, plate 40, plate 3, motor 29, plate 4, plate 43, wire 41X, plate 41 to wire 47 leading to the other terminal of the battery and simultaneously by wire 52, plate 9 to motor of switch box 16 corresponding to the motor 29 of switch box 15, then to plate 10 and by wire `attempting to enter.

plate 40, from thence to the plate 5 and by.

wire 57 to the terminal of the motor 31, then by wire 58. from the other terminal of the motor to the plate 6, which is in contactnwith the plate 43, the current then passing by wire 41X to the plate 41 to the other terminal of the battery thereby closing the circuit through the motor 31 operating such motor to withdraw the rack bar 26 from beneath the switch arm 21 thereby allowing such arm v to fall into contact with the bared end of the wire 22 thus closing the switch.

Simultaneously the current passes by wires 49 and 50 to the plates 11 and 12 which are connected by, wires 53 and 54 to the motor in the switch box- 16 corresponding to the motor 29 of the switch box 15 hereinbefore describedy and thereby operating such motor so that the rack bar of such switch box is moved in a corresponding direction thereby withdrawing the rack bar 26 to close the switch contained in the switch box 16 also. block is now closed against another train Should another train attempt to enter in the 'direction such as indicated by arrow A the contacts 41 and 42 engage with the contacts 13 and 14 a circuit is closed, which passes from one terminal of the battery to the plate 41, from thence to vthe contact 13, then by wire 22 to-one -terminal of the switch 21 located in the switch box 16 through the closed switch arm to the other terminal of the switch, and by wire 20 to the plate 14, which is in contact with the plate 42. The current then passes from the plate 42 by wire 45 to one terminal of the motor 38 and returns by wire 46 to the other terminal of the battery. By this :meansv the motor 38 is revolved and the air brake mechanism operated to put on the air brakes and thereby stop the train.

So far I have only described the operation in connection with asingle block. It will be readily understood that if a single block only is provided and a locomotive at the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, it would close the switches at each end of the block aa and the opposing train F would be stopped immediately it attempted. to enter the opposite end of the block. In the event of the train E passing in the direction of arrow toward the opposite end of the block it would pass over the contacts of the blocks bb, the switches of which block have been closed by the entrance of train F thereinto and, therefore, as train E contacts with contacts 7 and 8 of block bb, it would be stopped in the middle of block` aca Also the air brakes of the train F would be put into operation and the train F stopped by attempting to enter the block aa and would, therefore, be prevented from approaching into close proximity to the train E located in the block aa. Similarly if the train E was in the block 00, a train entering the block ce from the left of the block ce would be stopped when the train is passing through the block del and would, therefore, prevent another train approaching the rear end Of the train E on entering the block cc, thus preventing a rear end collision. It may be stated that as the train proceeds to pass out of the opposite end of the block the train contacts engage the Contact plates 11 and 12 which are the closing contacts, and as the switches have already been closed by the train entering the block no effect is produced. After the train makes contact with these contacts 11 and 12, they engage the contacts 9 and 10 which are the switch opening contacts operating the switch opening motor, drawing the bar 26 in the opposite direction to that already described, thereby raising the Switch arm 21 to open the switch. This operation takes place at both ends of the block simultaneously.

From this description it will be seen that I have devised a very simple device whereby trains are positively held at a deiinite distance apart so that either head on or rear end collisions are absolutely prevented.

It will, of course, be understood that in the use of my invention various changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

In my invention I wish also to state that it is never necessary to derail a train as the contacts may be used between the rails connecting with the engine and with any prearranged circuit in order to stop the train instead of derailing it.

What I claim as my invention is.

1. In a train controlled block system, a Switch located at each end of a block, a sliding rack for operating said switch, a pair of motors for operating said rack in opposite directions, and electric circuits closed by the tra-in for separately energizing said motors.

2. In a train controlled block system, a gravity switch located at each end of the block, a sliding rack bar having an inclined end to act on said switch, a pair of inde pendent motors having gears on their shafts meshing with said rack, and means controlled by the train for independently energizing said motors.

JEREMIAH JOHNSON.

Witnesses M. EGAN, R. MOFFAT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

